Ms R?iseal N? Ch?illeachair:

What we are trying to concentrate on now in Sudan is trying to get as much assistance across the borders as we can, which is very difficult. The security situation is extreme. We have a large response on the Chad side of the border and we are also looking at how we can respond to the 700,000 people who have moved from Sudan into South Sudan and southern Ethiopia. We are trying to do the bare minimum, trying to get such things as water purification tablets and high density nutritious food for pregnant women and small children in. It is beyond heartbreaking to see what has happened. Our colleagues say it is on a par with, if not worse than Darfur, more than 20 years ago. The level of destruction is absolutely breathtaking. It is a huge challenge to see a country that has come out of that level of conflict in multiple variations plunged back into such severe conflict in one year. It is also about reinforcing the work of Irish diplomats on a global scale in trying to find ways in which other countries can be brought to the table. We are very far away from a solution, but with the fact that 8 million people have moved and the level of destruction, we are starting to see a little more attention on it. There has been a big global fundraising initiative by the French Government.

There is now a call for further funding to be raised and to be accompanied by strong political engagement, because that is needed, as well as secure access for people to get in and for aid workers to safely provide some level of assistance. It is truly devastating.